Retailers send their street cleaner overseas

Just when
Auckland’s leading shopping district is gearing up for the
pre-Christmas rush, its retailers are sending their street
cleaner to Samoa for two weeks in December, with the return
air-ticket sponsored by Newmarket’s Harvey World Travel
and organised by the local business association.

The
Newmarket Business Association searched out some sponsorship
after it decided it wanted to reward street cleaner Rachel
Sifa for her hard work. It is now encouraging other town
centres not to over look their street cleaners this
Christmas.

“Street cleaning is a critical role in any
town centre. We encourage other areas that have great street
cleaners to acknowledge their hard work, even if it’s just
a card. When times are tough it’s easy to overlook their
quiet dedication and daily contribution. In recessionary
times presentation and customer experience become even more
important," says Cameron Brewer, head of the Newmarket
Business Association.

"Rachel works from dawn till
dusk six days a week sweeping our streets and she does a
great job. She is very popular among our business community
and members have long been saying to me it's time we did
something nice for her.

"This is a thank you from everyone
in Newmarket. Rachel is much loved, has a deep faith, and we
just wanted to show her how much she is appreciated. We are
eternally grateful for Harvey World Travel at the bottom of
Remuera Road for generously supplying the return ticket.

"When Cameron approached us we did not hesitate. Rachel
is a real Newmarket treasure and we wanted to show our
commitment to the local community. It's a real privilege and
we're proud to be sponsors," says Grant Bevin, owner of
Harvey World Travel, Newmarket.

Mr Brewer says Rachel has
cleaned Newmarket's streets for several years, and up until
last year she was on her own. He says given the district
prides itself on being the fashion capital, the street
cleaning role is critical.

"With all the new businesses
and street redevelopments, it's a massive job. What's more
Rachel is a workaholic. The council tells me she has a lot
of annual leave owing simply because she is so committed to
her job.

"By organising this trip for her, we're basically
forcing her to take a two-week holiday which is long
overdue."

"Rachel has never been back to Samoa since she
left many years ago. She has elderly family members still
there and a lot of friends to catch up with. We just want
her to put her feet up," says Cameron Brewer.

"This is a
huge honour and one I never expected. I feel very humble and
fortunate. I really enjoy my work in Newmarket where the
people are so nice to me. Thank you to the Newmarket
Business Association and Harvey World Travel for making this
possible. I am very excited," says Rachel Sifa.

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